BIBLE READING PLAN
WEEK 2 – EXITING OUR PAST
DAY 5
This week in our readings, we’re focusing on the key idea from Exodus 2: “Letting go of our past gives us room to receive God’s present plan.” In our last reading of the week, we check out what God’s present plan is from Romans 12.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Reflection: The only appropriate response to God’s forgiveness is to live the rest of our lives for him.- What are ways you sense God is calling you to live for Him? Talk to Him about that now.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Reflection: In our readings this week how Moses rejected his past sin for a better future. We saw how God can purify us of our past so we can connect with him now. Today, we read that the only appropriate response to God’s forgiveness is to live our lives for him. To be living sacrifices and live for his glory (12:1) by using the spiritual gifts he’s given us (12:3-8). The only problem is that living sacrifices can crawl off the altar – and we often do!- What spiritual gifts has God given you? (Discover them here)
- How are you using those for his glory?
- Are there ways you have crawled off the altar and aren’t living for God?
- Talk to God about that and recommit to using your gifts for his glory.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Reflection: Have you ever had to give something up, to get something better? When you were a baby, you had to give up your crib, but you got to get a real bed. When you got a bit older, you had to give up your car seat, but now you get to sit in the car with just a seatbelt. At some point, your favorite shoes got too old, too small, and probably too smelly, so you had to throw them away. But you got to go shoe shopping to get a brand new pair. There are lots of times where we have to get rid of one thing, but we get something else because of it. Jesus asks us to get rid of something, but it’s not something that most of us would want to keep anyways. He is asking us to get rid of the bad things in our lives, or the distractions, and to focus on God! This might mean getting rid of lying to people, and focus on telling the truth because God asks us to. Or it might mean getting rid of being mean to someone who is mean to us, and focus on showing them love, because God loves them too. Sometimes, it can mean not hitting the snooze button on your alarm 3 times in the morning, and waking up on time so you have time to pray and read your Bible before school. God asks us to give up some things, that’s for sure. But whenever we give those things up, He wants us to do it so that we can be closer to Him! And being closer to God is SO much better than any of those things He asks us to give up.- What is something that you might have to give up, so that you can be closer to God? It doesn’t have to be a good thing, it can be a bad thing that you struggle with doing.
- What are some ways that you can help yourself to focus on God, instead of distractions?
Focus Verse: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Devotional:
In our readings this week how Moses rejected his past sin for a better future. We saw how God can purify us of our past so we can connect with him now. Today, we read that the only appropriate response to God’s forgiveness is to live our lives for him. To be living sacrifices and live for his glory by using the spiritual gifts he’s given us.
- What spiritual gifts has God given you? (Discover them here)
- How are you using those for his glory?
- Are there ways you have crawled off the altar and aren’t living for God?
- Talk to God about that and recommit to using your gifts for his glory.
Focus Verse: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Devotional:
In our readings this week how Moses rejected his past sin for a better future. We saw how God can purify us of our past so we can connect with him now. Today, we read that the only appropriate response to God’s forgiveness is to live our lives for him. To be living sacrifices and live for his glory by using the spiritual gifts he’s given us.
- What spiritual gifts has God given you? (Discover them here)
- How are you using those for his glory?
- Are there ways you have crawled off the altar and aren’t living for God?
- Talk to God about that and recommit to using your gifts for his glory.
